Traditionally raster analysis to extract information from imagery is performed on local or enterprise computers and then the results shared with end users. However, such analysis requires cloud or on-premises infrastructure for hosting and processing imagery and raster collections, which can be expensive and time consuming to maintain. Additionally, this restricts the analysis to users who have direct access to the imagery and the required compute infrastructure and software.
Hosting imagery in ArcGIS Online allows you to host, analyze, and stream imagery and raster collections using the ArcGIS Online cloud instead of your organization's infrastructure.
Once imagery is hosted using ArcGIS Online, you or any authorized user can perform image analysis and raster analytics at site, city, country, and global scales. Analysis options include image classification, change detection, suitability analysis, multidimensional analysis, and advanced deep learning workflows.
As an authorized user, you can then also share results with internal and external stakeholders as tiled or dynamic services, or interactive apps, dashboards, and reports.
Note:
To host imagery in ArcGIS Online, you need a Creator, Professional, or Professional Plus user type with privileges to publish hosted imagery layers and create content for your ArcGIS Online organization. The organization administrator can then enable imagery layer creation (or imagery analysis) privileges for individual users.
ArcGIS help
Review the following links on reference materials for ArcGIS products:
- Learn how to perform raster analysis in ArcGIS Online .
- Learn about tools for performing raster analysis online.
- Learn about functions for raster analysis available online.
- Learn about the online Raster Function Editor, a visual programming interface for building imagery and raster analysis processing chains.
- Learn about styling imagery layers in Map Viewer and Map Viewer Classic.
ArcGIS blogs, articles, stories, and technical papers
Review the following supplemental guidance about concepts, software functionality, and workflows:
- Read a blog explaining why you should consider hosting imagery in ArcGIS Online.
- Learn about the imagery layers, as well as the technical functionality of tiled imagery layers and map tile cache.
- Learn how to use ArcGIS Notebooks to publish imagery layers to ArcGIS Online.
- Learn how to use the imagery hosting capabilities of ArcGIS Online.
Videos
Watch the following Esri-produced videos that clarify and demonstrate concepts, software functionality, and workflows:
- Learn about raster analysis tools, the Raster Function Editor, and basic scripting online (6 minutes).
- Learn about image enhancement and analysis capabilities using tiled imagery layers (3 minutes).
Training and tutorials
Review the following guided lessons and tutorials based on real-world problems and key ArcGIS skills:
- Take this web course to learn how to use deep learning in your analysis workflow with ArcGIS Online. (1 hour, 45 minutes)
- Learn how to perform change detection to assess hail damage in cornfields with satellite imagery. (45 minutes)
- With hosted multidimensional data, predict coral bleaching by calculating sea surface temperature trends using raster analysis tools. (1 hour)
Developer resources
Review the following resources and support for automating and customizing workflows:
- Create imagery layers with ArcGIS API for Python using copy_raster and create_image_collection (which you can then use for raster analysis).
- Review the following Python samples of online raster analysis:
- Use ArcGIS API for JavaScript to find code samples for working with the ImageryLayer, ImageryTileLayer, and WCSLayer raster layers.
Esri Community
Use the online imagery community to connect, collaborate, and share experiences:
- Visit the Esri Imagery in ArcGIS Online community.